KARACHI: Karachi Dolphins launched their Haier T20 Cup campaign without much fuss as a sublime Asad Shafiq innings guided them to a five-wicket win against Larkana Bulls at the National Stadium here on Wednesday night.

The Bulls, who had shocked the Dolphins in only their previous T20 clash in Islamabad last February on their way to a quarter-final place, put up a spirited fight against the tournament favourites who are led by seasoned Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Zahid Mahmood-led Bulls had hoped for a meaningful total to take advantage of the pitch that was used for the third game on the trot. He failed on both counts. The Bulls were restricted to 123-6 after Zahid won the toss. And then the pitch played true throughout.

Asad, the Pakistan Test batsman, cashed in to remind the national selectors that he could be part of the national squad for next month’s one-off T20 clash against Australia in Dubai, with some excellent strokes. The eight boundaries struck by the diminutive right-hander were done with precision.

The Bulls couldn’t penetrate the mindset of Asad, who appeared to have lost some weight, as he produced a high-quality knock after paceman Mohammad Urs had dismissed opener Shahzaib Hasan and Rameez Raja cheaply.

Fawad Alam repaired the early damage in a stand of 62 with the well-set Asad, who was later named man-of-the-match for his 48-ball 64 not out. Fawad batted in his typically ungainly style before he slashed a catch off leg-spinner Zahid down to short third man’s lap.

Afridi didn’t last long enough when he offered an easy catch to cover but Anwar Ali finished the Group ‘A’ game with a big hit over long-on fence for his second six.

Earlier, Ghulam Yasin rescued Bulls from a tight corner. Coming in with his team in real strife at 46-5, Yasin was responsible for giving his team some hope of creating ripples in the Dolphins’ ranks.

Yasin (44 off 35 balls, five fours and one six) was the dominant partner in the sixth-wicket partnership of 70 with Mohammad Urs (run-a-ball 26, four boundaries) after the Bulls had lost wicket in each of the opening three overs. Two of them went to Anwar Ali who finished with three for 30 in four testing overs.

Scoreboard

LARKANA BULLS:

Asif Babar lbw b Anwar 0

Ahsan Ali c and b Anwar 6

Rameez Ahmed b Sami 0

Zafar Katper run out 22

Shabbir Solangi c Anwar b Fawad Khan 9

Mohammad Urs c Ameer b Anwar 26

Ghulam Yasin not out 44

Mohammad Siddique not out 6

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-3, W-5) 10

TOTAL (six wkts, 20 overs) 123

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-1, 3-7, 4-46, 5-46, 6-116.

DID NOT BAT: Zahid Mahmood, Imtiaz Leghari, Imran Chandio.

BOWLING: Anwar Ali 4-0-30-3; Mohammad Sami 4-0-12-1; Shahid Afridi 4-0-28-0; Abdul Ameer 4-0-24-0; Fawad Khan 4-0-24-1 (1w).

KARACHI DOLPHINS:

Shahzaib Hasan c Ahsan b Urs 2

Rameez Raja b Urs 4

Asad Shafiq not out 64

Fawad Alam c Shabbir b Zahid 25

Shahid Afridi c Yasin b Imran 2

Sarfraz Ahmed run out 13

Anwar Ali not out 13

EXTRAS (W-2) 2

TOTAL (for five wkts, 18.4 overs) 125

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-14, 3-76, 4-79, 5-104.

DID NOT BAT: Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Sami, Fawad Khan, Abdul Ameer.: Mohammad Urs 4-0-24-2 (1w); Ghulam Yasin 3-0-19-0; Zahid Mahmood 4-0-22-1; Imtiaz Leghari 2.4-0-24-0; Imran Chandio 4-0-25-1; Mohammad Siddique 1-0-11-0 (1w).

BOWLING: Mohammad Urs 4-0-24-2 (1w); Ghulam Yasin: 3-0-19-0; Zahid Mahmood 4-0-22-1; Imtiaz Ali: 2.4-0-24-0; Imran Chandio 4-0-25-1; Mohammad Siddiq 1-0-11-0 (1w)

RESULT: Karachi Dolphins won by five wickets.

UMPIRES: Zameer Haider and Javed Ashraf.

TV UMPIRE: Saqib Khan.

MATCH REFEREE: Ilyas Khan.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Asad Shafiq.

Published in Dawn, September 18th , 2014